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The Conversation

Arts + Culture

Three portraits of royals against a red curtain.

Five controversial historical royal portraits – from drunken kings to sexy mermaids

Christina Faraday, University of Cambridge

Six Robert De Niro films that explore alienation, isolation and loneliness

Daniel O'Brien, University of Essex

Robert De Niro with a mohawk, in a bright patterned suit and wearing boxing gloves.
Crosby-Schøyen Codex: ancient Coptic manuscript reveals sermon that spurred violence against Jews

M J C Warren, University of Sheffield

A frangment of an ancient biblical text written in the Coptic language.
Another View: Landscapes by Women Artists – a rare chance to see our rapidly changing world from a purely female perspective

Doris Rohr, Liverpool Hope University

A landcape painting
Pirates and politicians: what a 300-year-old book about the most notorious buccaneers reveals about British politics

Richard Blakemore, University of Reading

A historical coloured etching of a pirate and a fleet of ships.
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Film, TV + theatre

A CGI ape holding an eagle.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review: a sharper look as the story gets closer to where it all started in the 60s

Amy C. Chambers, Manchester Metropolitan University

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga does little to address the franchise’s frustrating attitude towards Australia’s dark past

Stephen Morgan, University of Bristol

Anya Taylor-Joy holding a gun against a crucifix, fire blazing behind her.
IF: children’s film shows some of the joy that comes from having an imaginary friend

Paige Davis, University of Leeds

Image of girl with large furry purple creature
Affairs, diseases and menages a trois – real Regency sex was even raunchier than Bridgerton suggests

Sarah Richardson, University of Glasgow

Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton. He holds her chin.
Bridgerton: in a show full of sex, many of the characters know little about it – the real ladies of the ton weren’t so ignorant

Meg Kobza, Newcastle University

Philippa and Prudence being interrogated by Lady Featherington.

Books

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck wins the International Booker prize – a chaotic love at the end of times

Edward Sugden, King's College London

Book cover of Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck.
Alice Munro, master of the short story: superlative tales that exalt the drama of the everyday

Ellen Orchard, Trinity College Dublin

An old intelligent-looking woman looking wryly at the camera.
The Details: could a ‘quiet COVID book’ win the 2024 International Booker prize?

Lucyl Harrison, University of Hull

A woman sitting on the edge of a bed in a darkened room looking out of the window.
You Are Here by David Nicholls – a touching tale of finding love and connection in nature

Sally O'Reilly, The Open University

Two hikers in a landscape.

Kafka 100

Person with head down on desk.

Kakfa 100: struggles of disabled characters in systems that don’t support them feel just as relevant today

Saul Leslie, University of Liverpool

Stanley Kubrick looking into a camera.

Kafka 100: Stanley Kubrick’s films are littered with references to the writer’s work

Nathan Abrams, Bangor University

Something Good

So much to catch up on. Your time is precious. Get our expert picks of film, TV, music, exhibitions, books and more

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Bridgerton is back and still frothy, but developing a more grown-up attitude – what you should see and read this week

Jane Wright, The Conversation

Shardlake, Penelope Featherington from Bridgerton and Raymond Briggs.
Taylor’s clues and Ripley’s secrets – what you should see and listen to this week

Naomi Joseph, The Conversation

Enzo Mari, Daisy Ridley, Taylor Swift and Andrew Scott.
Bi-polar comedy, a sweeping Japanese saga and a Brummie drama about ska – what you should be watching this week

Jane Wright, The Conversation

characters from This Town, Big Mood and Shōgun
Alien invasions, a lesbian road movie and tropical architecture – the best things to watch and do this week

Anna Walker, The Conversation

Margaret Qualley, Benedict Wong, Zine Tseng and Geraldine Viswanathan.

History

Three men drinking and chatting

Fears that English is ‘disappearing’ in England are misplaced – history shows the island has always been multilingual

Lindy Brady, Edge Hill University

Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon

Taylor Matthews, University of Southampton

A painting of a dispute between Queen Cristina Vasa and Rene Descartes.
A century ago, the women of Wales made an audacious appeal for world peace – this is their story

Jennifer Mathers, Aberystwyth University and Mererid Hopwood, Aberystwyth University

Four smartly dressed women with hats stand with a large book on the steps of the White House
2 knights, 1 horse − how a legendary Knights Templar symbol has puzzled and fascinated since the Middle Ages

Andrew Latham, Macalester College

Circular, red seal depicting two knights sitting on one horse
The reconstruction of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman’s face makes her look quite friendly – there’s a problem with that

Fay Bound Alberti, King's College London

The recreated head of Shanidar Z.

Art + exhibitions

A cut out of the bronze statue Family Group, showing a mother father and child, next to a photo of Moore in a fur trimmed coat.

Henry Moore in Miniature shows the brutal influence of wartime on the sculptor’s work

John Atkin, Loughborough University

Discovering Degas: new exhibition in Glasgow reveals boldness and foresight of early British collectors

Frances Fowle, The University of Edinburgh

An Impressionist painting by Edgar Degas showing ballet dancers backstage.
Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland exhibition: how an odd pairing bring out the best in each other

Mark Dennis, Nottingham Trent University

A Beryl Cook painting called Elvira's Cafe.
Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520–1920 – stunning in scope but celebrating female artists with exhibitions isn’t enough

Chloe Ward, Queen Mary University of London

Woman looking at two paintings.
The king’s first portrait – understanding the image Charles wants to project for his reign

Gabriele Neher, University of Nottingham

The King's portrait

Music

Billie Eilish performing in a crowd

Hit Me Hard And Soft by Billie Eilish review – a flowing queer triumph that celebrates the album as a form

L Holland, University of Bristol

A black and white photo of The Beatles playing on the roof of a building.

Let It Be: rerelease of 1970 Beatles film reveals how the history of popular music is written

Adam Behr, Newcastle University

State of the arts

UK’s creative industries bring in more revenue than cars, oil and gas – so why is arts education facing cuts?

Adam Behr, Newcastle University

A broody image of Goldmiths University in the later afternoon sun against a gunmetal sky.
Special edition vinyl albums cause some fans delight – but others suspect a cynical marketing ploy

Glenn Fosbraey, University of Winchester

Taylor Swift vinyl on display at a record store in Tokyo.
Glastonbury’s first K-pop group is a reflection of years of Korean government strategy

Sarah A. Son, University of Sheffield

The 17 members of the K-pop band SEVENTEEN.
Rediscovering Gems: British Museum exhibition exposes hypocrisy of new loan agreements for looted objects

Nathan Bossoh, University of Southampton

Man in a robber costume posing in front of objects in the British Museum

Fashion + pop culture

Carlo Acutis: what the first ‘millennial saint’ says about the Catholic church’s future

Liam Temple, Durham University

The Pope in front of an altar with a huge picture of Carlo Acutis on it.
Bridgerton: must-know beauty tips for Regency ladies

Lisa Smith, University of Essex

A lady from Bridgerton.
‘Woke’ and ‘gaslight’ don’t mean what you think they do – here’s why that’s a problem

Robbie Morgan, University of Leeds

Five people talking
Met Gala: what fairytales can teach us about modern fashion trends

Cath Davies, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Zendaya wears a long black gown and a crown of flowers while standing on a sweeping staircase at the Met Gala.
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Most read this week

1.
2 knights, 1 horse − how a legendary Knights Templar symbol has puzzled and fascinated since the Middle Ages

Andrew Latham, Macalester College

2 knights, 1 horse − how a legendary Knights Templar symbol has puzzled and fascinated since the Middle Ages
2.
Fears that English is ‘disappearing’ in England are misplaced – history shows the island has always been multilingual

Lindy Brady, Edge Hill University

Fears that English is ‘disappearing’ in England are misplaced – history shows the island has always been multilingual
3.
International Booker prize 2024: six expert reviews of the shortlisted books

Helen Vassallo, University of Exeter; Anne Whitehead, Newcastle University; Edward Sugden, King's College London; Hyunseon Lee, SOAS, University of London; Lucyl Harrison, University of Hull, and Rafael Mendes Silva, Trinity College Dublin

International Booker prize 2024: six expert reviews of the shortlisted books
4.
‘Woke’ and ‘gaslight’ don’t mean what you think they do – here’s why that’s a problem

Robbie Morgan, University of Leeds

‘Woke’ and ‘gaslight’ don’t mean what you think they do – here’s why that’s a problem
5.
Affairs, diseases and menages a trois – real Regency sex was even raunchier than Bridgerton suggests

Sarah Richardson, University of Glasgow

Affairs, diseases and menages a trois – real Regency sex was even raunchier than Bridgerton suggests
6.
Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon

Taylor Matthews, University of Southampton

Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon